******Robotaxi unsupervised fleet mixed: shrinking Austin/15th crash/CA delay/Cybercab steering wheel revert vs Waymo expansion [developing]**** [developing]** [developing]
Key Questions
What is the current status of Tesla's robotaxi fleet in Austin?
The fleet is around 37 vehicles total, with Austin down to about 4 units. A 15th crash occurred in March, contributing to operational challenges.
Why did Tesla's Cybercab revert to including a steering wheel?
Approximately 60 Cybercab units were spotted at Giga Texas on April 8, but production reverted to including a steering wheel. This follows no NHTSA exemption, amid FSD's 4x accident rate and 19% uptime in Austin.
What regulatory hurdles is Tesla facing in California?
CPUC has granted only Level 2 approval with no autonomous vehicle permit and zero test miles in California. This delays robotaxi operations there.
What incident involving Avride caused backlash in Austin?
An autonomous vehicle killed a beloved duck, sparking fury among Austin residents. This highlights ongoing concerns in the neighborhood.
What did investor Ross Gerber demand regarding Tesla's FSD?
Ross Gerber demanded a $10,000 refund if Tesla's new FSD does not operate unsupervised. He contrasted this with Waymo, claiming Google has solved autonomy.
Fleet ~37 (Austin ~4 down); 15th crash Mar; CPUC L2 no AV permit/zero CA test miles; Cybercab 60 units Giga Texas Apr8 but reverts to steering wheel (FSD Austin 4x accident rate/19% uptime, no NHTSA exemption); Avride duck backlash; Gerber $10k refund. Waymo 500k rides/10 cities + potholes; Tesla June hype (4-7 cities); v14.3/v15 aids amid reg hurdles/Q1 miss.